Wairarapa rider Luke Burkhart has taken his first step towards winning another New Zealand motocross crown.
The 27-year-old cray fisherman from Masterton was perhaps the fastest Kiwi on a 250cc motocross bike last season - he certainly won more races in the MX2 (250cc) class during the 2011 nationals thanany other rider - but lack of consistency let him down and he finished the season ranked only fourth overall.
Burkhart, a CMR Red Bull KTM rider, is back again for another crack at the nationals in 2012 and hoping to relive the glory of his last motocross title-winning ride when he took the 125cc crown in 2000. He improved his chances at a 2012 title after dominating the MX2 class at the Auckland Motocross Championships last month.
With three wins from three starts, Burkhart sent an unambiguous message to his MX2 class rivals, particularly to defending champion Darryll King, who had to settle for runner-up behind Burkhart in all three races at the Pukekohe circuit.
"This is my first race since the last nationals, so to win today is pretty pleasing," Burkhart said.
"I felt a bit rusty and have a few things to work on but I'm definitely in a better position than I was in at the same time last year. I hadn't prepared properly last season and that cost me. I feel very good right now though."
Also in the hunt for a national motocross crown next year, and also with a realistic chance of claiming it, is Hamilton's Hayden Clark.
Clark rode his CMR Red Bull KTM 350F to three runner-up finishes in the MX1 class at Pukekohe, each time finishing behind MX1 champion Cody Cooper.
